The agencies issued the guidance to reiterate policy and to remind regulated financial institutions to monitor all credit quality indicators relevant to credit portfolios, including junior liens. Examples of junior liens include second mortgages and home equity lines of credit taken out by mortgage borrowers.

The Federal Reserve Board, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the National Credit Union Administration, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency reiterate key concepts included in generally accepted accounting principles and existing ALLL supervisory guidance related to the ALLL and loss estimation practices. Regulators also remind institutions to follow appropriate risk-management principles in managing junior lien loans and lines of credit.